Description
Indulge in these delightful Cherry Pie Bites, featuring a sweet and tangy cherry filling encased in flaky pie crust. Perfect for parties or a cozy dessert at home, these bites are sure to impress!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries, pitted and halved
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 package (14 oz) refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the pitted and halved cherries with the granulated sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, and lemon juice.
- Stir the mixture gently to coat the cherries evenly with the sugar and cornstarch.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts to bubble and thicken, about 5-7 minutes.
- Once thickened, remove the saucepan from the heat and let the cherry filling cool while you prepare the pie crusts.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Unroll the refrigerated pie crusts on a clean, lightly floured surface.
- Using a round cookie cutter or a glass, cut out circles from the pie crusts, aiming for about 3-4 inches in diameter. You should get about 12-16 circles, depending on the size of your cutter.
- Gather any scraps of dough, re-roll them, and cut out additional circles until you have enough for your bites.
- Take one of the pie crust circles and place about 1 tablespoon of the cooled cherry filling in the center.
- Carefully fold the circle in half to create a half-moon shape, ensuring the filling is enclosed.
- Press the edges together firmly to seal. You can use a fork to crimp the edges for a decorative touch and to ensure they are well sealed.
- Repeat this process with the remaining pie crust circles and cherry filling until all are assembled.
- Place the assembled cherry pie bites on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each one.
- Brush the tops of the pie bites with the beaten egg to give them a beautiful golden color when baked.
- Sprinkle a little coarse sugar on top of each pie bite for added sweetness and crunch.
- Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pie bites are golden brown and flaky.
- Keep an eye on them towards the end of the baking time to prevent over-browning.
- Once baked, remove the cherry pie bites from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- These cherry pie bites are delicious served warm or at room temperature.
- For an extra treat, serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on the side.
- You can also dust them with powdered sugar for a lovely presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes